322 CHONDROPTERYGII. RAY FAMILY. 



Gen. CXVII. TORPEDO. The almost perfectly 

 circular disc formed by the body, and the short 

 thick tail, sufficiently distinguish this group, other- 

 wise so celebrated for the possession of powerful 

 electrical properties. 



(Sp. 232.) T. vulgaris. Common Torpedo, Cramp- 

 fish, or Electric Ray. The species of Torpedo are 

 pretty numerous, and a sufficiently careful compa- 

 rison of such as have occurred on our own coasts 

 has not been made with those of the Continent, to 

 enable us to speak with confidence as to their iden- 

 tity or difference. The present species has been 

 long known as occurring in the British seas, but it 

 is everywhere rare. According to Pennant it i& 

 frequently seen at Torbay ; Col. Montagu mentions 

 two specimens, one taken at Torcross, the other, ol 

 large size, off the coast of Tenby, in Wales ; it has 

 also been found on the coast of Cornwall, off Wey- 

 mouth, near "Waterford, and in some other places. It 

 varies from two to four feet in length, and is of a 

 cinereous brown colour above and white beneath. It 

 frequents deep water, and seems in its habits, which 

 are but imperfectly known, to resemble the other; 

 large rays. It is sluggish and inactive, and is par- 

 tial to a muddy bottom, where it lies partly im- 

 bedded. Its food consists principally of fish, $ 

 surmullet and plaice having been found in the 

 stomach, and these it is said to secure by stupifying 

 them by means of its galvanic apparatus. The lat- 

 ter occupies a considerable space on each side of the 

 body, and consists of irregular hexagons or 



